See $8M NorCal home built to resist fires — and to dazzle with its modern design
A spectacular Northern California home on the market for $8 million was built to withstand brush fires without compromising on quality, design or luxury.
The property is located on three acres in the Los Altos Hills overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence doesn’t have any wood on the exterior, according to Sotheby’s International Realty. The modern and robust home was constructed out of steel, architectural concrete blocks, copper and glass with minimal use of sheet rock and cladding.
“This home is built with concrete block, steel and glass,” listing agent Arthur Sharif of Sotheby’s International Realty - San Francisco brokerage said. “Those are the prime elements that are used in this house.”
The bituthene roof has a Class A commercial-grade fire-safety rating.
A fire hydrant on the property between the house and the garage provides extra protection.
“I have never seen that,” Sharif said.
A suitable hose for the fire hydrant is kept in the garage.
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Very high fire hazard zone
Los Altos Hills lies in a very high fire hazard severity zone based on factors such as vegetation, slope and weather conditions. The Santa Clara County town on the edge of Silicon Valley is known for its luxury properties. The average Los Altos Hills home is valued at nearly $6 million, up 6% over the past year, according to Zillow.
Beyond its fire-resistant features, the 4,800-square-foot home at 27161 Moody Road brings quality craftsmanship up to another level. Callas Shortridge Architects designed the residence.
“This modern living sculpture is a testament to the organic architectural philosophies of Frank Israel and Frank Lloyd Wright,” the property listing states. “Callas Shortridge Architects formed an evolving dialogue between the land and the built form, a harmonious convergence of artistry and nature. Forged from a robust steel, the design emphasizes the beauty of natural materials, allowing them to flow seamlessly and create a tranquil environment.”
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Other hallmarks of the residence include:
▪ An open floor plan (“The steel structure allows it to be a totally open floor plan where there are expanses of 100-feet plus, without any support,” Sharif said);
▪ Terrazzo and natural hardwood floors;
▪ Solid German-manufactured mahogany windows and doors throughout (“The front door probably weighs hundreds of pounds, but they’ve got it on a pivot where it’s just super, super easy to open and close”);
▪ A spectacular, two-sided fireplace that extends up to the ceiling and through the roof;
▪ Expansive Ipa decking that’s both fire and termite resistant. ( “Every piece of wood out there is Ipa from the Brazilian rain forest.”)
▪ Walls of glass bring in a balance of light and soft shadows from the oak trees; rising, angular ceilings; and clerestory windows that give the home ambient light;
▪ Furniture-quality millwork and cabinetry;
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In addition, an artist’s retreat is connected to the main home by a soaring covered walkway. There’s a heated pool and pool house, outdoor kitchen, two-car garage and three-vehicle carport.
The home was built in 2008. The sellers finished constructing the house after a previous owner abandoned the project, Sharif said.
“I sold the house to (the previous owners) back during the Great Recession (2008), and those folks spent well over $8 million constructing this home, and they weren’t able to finish it because of financial issues,” he said. “And so it was sold to these folks (who) took it past the finish line.”
Homebuyers interested
The property has garnered a lot of interest, Sharif said.
“People in this price point are pretty sophisticated — it’s not their first or second home, and they appreciate the quality that went into this,” he added.
Potential buyers also are attracted to the home because it minimizes the extreme insurance challenges in high-risk fire areas, Sharif noted.
“I just recently put a home in escrow closing tomorrow, and the insurance is well over $85,000 a year,” he said. “And it’s not even about getting insurance. It’s not about even about the price for some of these new homeowners. It’s just the fact of that you can’t obtain it.”
A new owner will need to make very few adjustments when it comes to fire-proofing, Sharif added.
“The fire marshal was there yesterday, and he said that the only thing that this homeowner needs to do is just cut back some of the dry brush down below the property and pull a couple of the branches off the tree canopy,” he said.
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This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 8:28 AM.
